No Pullout of Iraq

I believe the war in Iraq was a miserable show of judgment and planning. I believe the war in Iraq has made us less secure than prior to it. I believe the spread of democracy could have been more effectively achieved through other means (stepping up pressure on Saudi Arabia and supporting Lebanon). I believe the war in Iraq has drained our coffers and dampened our domestic agenda. I believe the war in Iraq will embolden Iran to continue its quest for nuclear weapons.

But, pulling out of Iraq now is not an option. Iraq would descend even further into civil war and utter chaos. Until Iraq is stabilized, we cannot remove our troops. We need to continue to support our troops and objective until our job is done.

Bush: Pulling Out of Iraq Not an Option
By JENNIFER LOVEN, Associated Press Writer
Sat Jun 18, 8:22 PM ET

WASHINGTON - President Bush said Saturday that pulling out of Iraq now is not an option, rejecting calls by some lawmakers and many people asked in polls to start bringing U.S. troops home.

"The terrorists and insurgents are trying to get us to retreat. Their goal is to get us to leave before Iraqis have had a chance to show the region what a government that is elected and truly accountable to its citizens can do for its people," Bush said in his weekly radio address.

"We will settle for nothing less than victory" over terrorists there, he said later.

Bush's radio address is part of a series of appearances and speeches in the coming weeks aimed at countering poll ratings that are near their lowest levels on both the Iraq war and the economy. Bush said his administration is committed to success in both areas of concern for Americans.

About six in 10 in a Gallup poll taken in early June said the United States should withdraw some or all of its troops — the highest level of support for withdrawing U.S. troops since the war began.(Full Story)